Improvement in the manufacture of cube sugar



G. FINKEN.

Making Cube Sugar.

Paterited Oct. 22, 1861.

lnventon Witnesses:

AM. PHOTO-LITHO.C0. NY. (OSEORNE'S PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVUS FINKEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CUBE SUGAR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,524, dated October22, 1861.

. is known as refined or from other granular sugar much difficulty hasbeen encountered, owing to the want of some practicable method ofrendering adhesive the grains or crystals of which the sugar iscomposed.

The object of this invention is to overcome this difficulty; and to thisend it consists in exposing the grains or crystals,preparatory to theirintroduction or while on their Way to the molds or cube-formingapparatus, to the action of steam, by which their surfaces are subjectedto the necessary degrees of heat and moisture to give them the requisiteadhesive ness.

The invention may be performed invarious ways, and the drawing merelyillustrates that which I at present consider the most convenient.

A is an upright trunk, of quadrangular or other form in its horizontalsection, fitted with number of screens.B B, so arranged one aboveanother and inclined in opposite directions that the granular sugardelivered on the top one will roll down it and fall on the next one,

and so pass from each to the one below it and from the lowest onethrough an opening in one side of and near the bottom of the trunk,from

whence it may be delivered" directly to the molding apparatus. Themeshes of the screens are not large enough for the grains or crystals ofsugar to pass through.

0 is an endless-band elevator,for conveying the granular sugar to theuppermost screen.

D is a steam-pipe entering the trunk below the lowest screen for theintroduction of the steam, which ascends through the trunk and throughthe screens, passing through, among, and over the surface of the sugar,which is rolling down the screens in such manner that every grain willbe subjected to its heating and moistening influences, and so have itssurface brought to the adhesive condition nec essary to permit themanufacture of cubes of sufficient tenacity to prevent their beingeasily broken or crumbled in packing or transportation.

I am aware that sugar has been treated with steam in other branches ofthe sugar manufacture-as, for instance, in Shutzenbachs method ofclaying-but such treatment has been to obtain different results, and hasno connection with the manufacture of cube sugar. In view, however, ofsuch uses of steam, I disclaim its use in all other branches and at allother stages of the manufacture than that hereinbefore specified; and

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

In the manufacture of cube-sugar, the preparation of the granular sugarfor the molding or cube-forming apparatus by treatment with steam,substantially as herein described.

GUST. FINKEN.

\Vitnesses:

J. WV. OooMns, JAMES LAIRD.

